Book Excerpt: From Scratch by Tembi Locke

We had our book club with author Tembi Locke on September 25, 2019 to discuss her book From Scratch. Click here to watch the video. You can purchase a copy here, but first enjoy an excerpt: I exited the plane in Rome, jet-lagged with a gaggle of fellow college coeds headed for customs and immigration, my passport in hand. I was twenty …

Stunning Renovations at Florence’s Boboli Gardens

Florence is home to some of the most beautiful art works in the entire world. Not all of these masterpieces hang on gallery walls, though. The picturesque yet wild Boboli Gardens have been undergoing renovations, enlargements and changes since the Medici and Lorraine families began curating them in the 16th century. Given that the gardens are at the mercy of …

See Da Vinci’s Codex Leicester in Florence

Until January 2019, one of the most famous museums in the world, the Uffizi Gallery, will display the Codex Leicester book. The Codex Leicester contains studies Leonardo da Vinci did on a variety of topics, and will be displayed to honor the 500th anniversary of his death. From water studies to the history of our planet and deep studies on …

Mysterious Banksy Comes to Florence

Banksy is perhaps the most enigmatic figure of today’s art scene and while we don’t know what the artist looks like or Banksy’s true identity, we can now get a peek into his (or her) artistic message at Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence.The exhibit BANKSY- This is not a photo opportunity is on from October 19 to February 24 and …

Celebrating Florentine Women Artists of the Early 20th Century

In a world traditionally dominated by men, the Fondazione CR Firenze and Advancing Women Artists (AWA) are shining a light on the significant contributions women made to the art world in the first half of the 20th century. Through November 18, 2018 ‘ARTISTE: Women Artists Firenze 1900-1950‘ will be open to the public as a part of the Heritage of Women Festival. Two artists, …

Q+A on Biking in Italy with Maria Elena Price of ExperiencePlus!

From Venice to Florence with expert guides and great accommodations, this easy-level bicycle tour will take you to magnificent spots including family farms, traditional restaurants and to see local views you can only get traveling by bicycle. This tour has most all of the elements of a great trip to Italy: history, cuisine, gorgeous landscapes…and great cycling. Maria Elena Price …

Adventures With Sarah: Rick Steves Italy Expert

This article originally appeared in the October 2017 issue of Dream of Italy. 2019 update — Sarah just served as guest editor of our Special Report: Palermo. Sarah knows Sicily! If you have ever visited Italy, it is likely you’ve used Rick Steves as a resource, reading one of his books, watching one of his TV shows, listening to one of …

From The TV Show: Boat Ride on the Arno in Florence

In the Florence episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy enjoys a scenic boat tour on the Arno River for a new perspective of Florence. The Associazone Culturale I Renaioli has brought Florence‘s traditional flat-bottomed boats, once used to carry sand (rena), back to the Arno River. The renaioli were the men who dug up …

From The TV Show: Cantinetta Antinori in Florence

In the Florence episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy meets with a famous Italian wine-making family. The Antinori family has been making wine for 26 generations, since 1385. We met Allegra Antinori at Cantinetta Antinori in Palazzo Antinori, which the family originally purchased from the Medici. Allegra and her two sisters are carrying on …

From The TV Show: Fresco-Making Lesson in Florence

In the Florence episode of the second season of Dream of Italy on PBS, Kathy learns how to paint her own fresco. Make your own fresco in Florence with Professor Luca. Learn and perform all of the steps from the preliminary drawing to the finishing color and then take it home with you. This two-hour workshop costs 50€ per person …